Voting-machine.



.Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

11 BHEETSjBHEET l.

llllllll. llilllllxlllllllllll lllllllll |ll|ll||.|||.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, l905. 1,084,073.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2o. 1905,

1,084,073. Patented Jan. 1s, 1914.

` HEBTS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRMH co.. WINNING-rml. DA c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIoATmN FILED 11017.20, 1905.

Patented Jan` 13, 1914.

Y 11 SHEETS-SHEET 3. lniliillll l. .w Mlm mlrllflm..

NQ NN@ WWWK@ m 1 l l l l IIIIIIIIII mag.

coLuMaM PLANOGRAPH c0.,wASMlNuToN. D. c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. zo, 1905.

1,084,073, Patented Jan. 13, 17914.

. 11 BHlgTS-SHEET 4. @w

www I1 NM1 J5 I/22l 2i-` 'i f7 i iwf J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 11017.20. 1905.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

m. @A Qh. mK

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,wAsnlNGTON, D. c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1905. 1,084,073, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. zo, 1905.

Patented Jan. 13, 1 914.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

QQ@ QQ.

Mar/76 01W COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co-wAsHxNu'L-QN. D, c'A

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2o, 1905.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

2726/677 o rf ll SHEETS-'SHEET 8.

COLUMBIA PLANoGRAml C0., 'ASHINGTDN, uA c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATXON FILED Nov. zo, 1905.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

CoLuMBlA PLANOGRAPH Co.,w^sH|NGTDN. D. c.

J. H. DEAN. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1905.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

Mmmm

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

AlfPLIoATIoN FILED Nov. zo, 1905.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

l1 SHEETS-SHBET l1.

M l w, ...15.

cnLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASH1NC|TON. D. c,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Application filed November 20, 1905. Serial No. 288,185.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The improvement relates to voting machines and seeks to provide a construction readily adapted for use at different elections and in which provision is made for casting straight ticket or irregular ballots, for special class voting and indorsing candidates arranged in multi-candidate group.

Other objects of the invention are to simplify and improve parts of the machine so that they cannot get out of order or be capable of improper manipulation.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the face of the machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the voters key. Fig. is a view in elevation of the naine-plate slide mounted at front of the machine. Fig. 4 is an end view. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail sections through the front of the machine casing taken on lines 5 5, 6-6 and 77 respectively of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. S is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the front face plates removed. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the top of the machine with the upper plate of the total counter casing removed. Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the top unit of the machine. Fig. 11 is a plan view thereof with the top plate removed, certain parts being shown in section on line 11-11 of Fig. 10. Figs. 12 and 13 are horizontal sections of the upper unit or portion of the machine casing taken on lines 12H12 and 13-13 respectively of Figs. 10 and 14. Fig. 14 is a vertical section on line 14H14 of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a cross section on line 15-15 of Fig. 12. Fig. 16 is a plan View of one of the machine units or sections. Fig. 17 is a cross sect-ion thereof on line 17-17 of Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a horizontal section on line 18-*18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a detail section on line 19-19 of Fig. 16. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the counter actuator and parts operated thereby.

Fig. 21 is an elevation of the back of the machine with the rear cover-plate removed. Fig. Q2 is a similar view with certain of the parts removed and certain parts shown in section. Fig. 23 is a detail section on line 23-Q3 of Fig. 22. Figs. 24, 25 and Q6 are detail views 0f the mechanism at the rear face of the machine taken on lines 24424, 213-25 and 26-26 respectively of Fig. 22. F 2T is a rear view of the interlocking devices for the straight ticket. mechanisms with the outer plate thereof removed, that is to say, the view is a section on line 27-27 of Fig, Q4. Fig. 28 is a similar view with the outer row of wedge-blocks removed. F ig. 29 is a detail section on line 29 29 of Fig. 24. Fig. 30 is a plan view of the lower section, but. with the parts mounted on the rear face thereof removed. Fig. 31 is a longitudinal section on line 31H31 of Fig. 30. Fig. 32 is a cross section on line 32 32 of Figs. 30 and 31. Fig. 33 is a cross section on line 38-33 of Fig. 31. Fig. 34 is a section on line of Fig. 32.

The machine shown in the drawings, like that set forth in my prior Patent No. 636,780 and dated November 7, 1899, is made up of units or sections, but it is to be understood that numerous features of the present invention arel not dependent on the sectional and unit arrangement and may be applied to machines of other types.

Each of the machine units contains counters representing the candidates for a. single oliice and are placed one upon the other between the base and top sections. As many machine units are employed as are required for the number of oflices to be filled at an election. The base and top sections and the units or single candidate group sections are used without change at the different elections. The parts at the front and rear of the machine frame alone have to be changed when the number of units is increased or diminished. As stated, the single candidate group sections or machine units, are arranged in horizontal rows, one upon the other while the party tickets are arranged in vertical rows. This arrangement however, may bo altered without departure from the essentials of the invention.

The frame of the machine is preferably formed of sheet-metal and comprises the base frame or section 1, the unit or office sect-ion frames 2, the top frame or section 3 the top plate 4 and the sheet-metal back 5, which latter part serves to protect and conceal the operating', and other parts on the backs ot the unit trames or sections.

The sections may be held together in any suitable way by means of t-hrough-bolts (i, which extend through the sections and through the top plate 4. The sections may als be interlocked, ir" desired, in any suitable way. The trame as a Whole, is carried at a proper height above the tloor upon legs or supports "4', the upper portions only oit' ivhich are shoivn in Figs. 1 and S. The top and bottom sections and the intermediate machine units are preferably trough-shaped, having bottoni, side and end walls with open tops, each however being closed by the bottom ot the section or unit above it. The top section is closed by the plate 4. The parts ot the trame are rigidly connected by the tie-bolts 6 and support the booth of the machine. This booth is preferably a curtain hung from a bmvshaped rod which is carried upon a cross arm 7 centrally liournaled at the top of the machine. This arrangement of the booth-curtain is shoivn in a companion application tiled by me and need not be more fully set forth here. he bootlrcarrying arm 7 is lixed to the upper end oi a short stub shaft S (see Figs. 10 and 11) that is journaled in the top section 3 et the machine. The lower end orn the shaft is provided With a reduced portion 9 that sets Within a socket in the bottom ot the section 3 and With a collar 10 that abuts against the under tace of the top plate 4. .fr ratchet 11 i'ixed to the shaft beneath the collar 10, is arranged to be engaged by a spring pawl 1Q fixed to the side or the section 3, and Which prevents the rotation of the shaft 8 in one direction.

it will be understood that normally the bar S is in position ivith the curtain at the back of the machine and With the tace ot the latter, vvhich carries the keys exposed. The bar 11 and shalt S are rotated through a haltE revolution to inclose the face of the machine and conceal the voter ivhen the latter is to cast his ballot. iVhen thD voter leaves the machine, the booth-supporting arm 8 and shaft S are swung through another halt revolution in the same direction eac normal position. The arm 8" and 8 constitute the motor for the machine and are arranged to release the voting mechanisms during their first half revolution to restore the saine during their second half revolution and to ettect the operation ot the vote counters or registers as ivill presently appear.

The motor shatt 8 is preferably provided. with a total counter to register the number voters. This counter is arranged Within opentop bof; or casing` 13 mounted upon the top plate 5f oit the machine and provided With a cover plate 14. Bolts 15 extend through the cover plate 111-, casing 13 and top plate 4 and hold the parts in place. The nuts on the bolts 15 are arranged within the top section as shown, so that the casing ot the top counter cannot be open, except. by dismantling the machine. Three cylindrical Wheels 16 are provided having numerals on their peripheral surfaces which are exposed through openings 17 (see Fig. 1) in the front ivall of the total counter casing. The units and tens ivheels are mounted upon cross studs 18, the reduced ends'ot which are journaled in the bottom ot the casing 1? and in the top plate 14. The hundreds Wheel is journaled on a central boss 19 rising from the bottom of the box or cz sing 13, and surrounding the motor shaft 8. The units Wheel drives the tens Wheel and the latter drives the hundreds wheel by means ot intermittent, Geneva stop movement gears Q0 mounted upon the loiver ends so that they are constantly interlocked with one another and can only be driven by imparting` movement to the units Wheel. This Wheel is provided with an intermittent gear Q1 on its upper end which is arranged to be engaged by a gear Q2 fixed to the sha'tt S, and which has a single tooth and a cylindrical locking surtace cooperating with the teeth of the gar 2l on the units wheel. The units ivheel is thus constantly interlocked With the motor shaft 8 and must necessarily shoiv at the end ot an election the number ot times that the shaft 8 has been rotated to operate the voting mechanisms. Then the machine is dismantled by the proper olticial, the bolts 15 and Cover plate 14 can be removed so that gear 22 may be disengaged from its companion Wheel 21 on the units Wheel and thus permit the setting o1 the total counter at Zero.

The back easing 5 which incloses certain connecting and operating parts extending between the sections, is hinged at its upper end to straps 23 (see Fig. 9.4), which extend beneath and are held in place by the nuts on the bolts 6. The loiver edge ot the back casing is provided with a hasp Q4 which lits over a loop 25 on the bottom of the lower section 1. A pad-lock 2G prevents removal of the back casing, except by the city clerk or other proper otiicial. The back casing 5 is provided at one end ivith a torivardly projecting lug Q7 (sce Figs. 1 and 11) which engages the end oi the main frame and extends beyond the trent tace thereof. The back casing 5, pad-lock 2G and torivardly projecting lug Q7 constitutes the city clerks lock and is arranged, as will presently appear, to preventI any interterence with the ordinary operation ot the machine, except by the city clerk or other proper otiicial having the key to the pad-lock QG.

fr pair ot longitudinal strips 28 and 29 (see Figs. l, 4, 5 and 6) are arranged in front of the top section 3 and parallel to the face thereof. These strips are carried upon pins 30 projecting forwardly from the front wall of the top section 3, but the strips are separated from the front face of the section by spacing thimbles 3l mounted on the pins. The lower edge of the strip 29 is arranged above that of the strip 2S as shown. A similar pair of plates are mounted in a like manner upon the lower section l. Here the upper edge of the strip 29 is below that of the plate 2S. Behind the strips 28 and 29 is arranged a sliding frame comprising the longitudinal bars (see Fig. 3) connected at one end by a cross strip 34: and at the other end by a plate 35. The bars 32 of the frame slide snugly between the front face of the top and bottom sections of the frame and the strips 29, while the strip 34 and plate 35, which are secured to the front faces of the bars 32, are in line with and abut against the edges of the strips 29 and engage. the inner faces of the strips 2S. The frame is securely held against any vertical shift by the pins 30, since the sleeves 3l thereon engage the upper and lower edges of the. frame bars 32. As stated, the voting mechanisms representing the single candidates are arranged in horizontal rows, while the party tickets preferably appear in vertical rows upon the face of the machine. The plate 35 is arranged to cover the party ticket appearing on the face of the machine at. the extreme right hand end and normally conceals the counters of that party ticket. Other party group plates 36 for normally concealing the remaining counters, are arranged to slide between the bars 32 of the sliding frame and the longitudinally extending strips 2S. The edges of these plates abut against the edges of the guide strips 29. The voting mechanisms in the vertical row at the extremeA left of the machine are preferably employed for the casting of free ballots for irregular candidates and not provided with counters. Opposite this row of voting mechanisms, but in front of the bars 32 of the slide frame, is arranged a plate 37 which is provided with pins 37 arranged to engage open-ended slots in the adjacent edges of the longitudinal strips 28. By this arrangement, the plate 37 is held in fixed position. It will be noted that the strip 3l and plate 35, which are fixed to the bars 32 of the sliding frame, the plate 37 which is fixed to the stationary fram@l and the loose slide plates 36, are all arranged in the same plane (see F ig. 30) between the guide strips 29. Vhen the machine is prepared for an election, the loose plates 36 will be held against movement between the plate 35 on the sliding frame and the fixed plate 37. The bars 32 of the slidingframe are of such length that, when the loose plates 36 are thus held against movement, the strip 34 will be separated from the edge of the fixed plate 37 and the outer end of the sliding frame will be in line with the end of the main frame so that it can be held against movement toward the right by a pad-lock 33 extending through a` lug 39. The frame is of course held against movement toward the left by the fixed plate 37.

The key of the pad-lock 3S is held by the judge of election and on its removal, the sliding frame together with plate 35 may be shifted toward the right until arrested by the engagement of the strip 34 with the fixed plate 37 to expose the right hand row of counters. The loose plates 3G may the-n be suitably7 shifted to expose the other rows of counters.

Means are preferably provided which compels the locking of the counters against further operation when the sliding frame is shifted to expose them. For this purpose, the upper bar 32 of the sliding frame has a semiscircular notch il0 (see Fig. 3) in its upper edge within which projects the outer end of a cross shaft lil journaled in one cud of the top frame section 3 tsee Figs. l2 and l5). By this means the sliding frame is normally held againstl movement but the end of the shaft is cut away so that in one position thereof, the frame is free and may be shifted to expose the counters in the manner described.

The shaft il has a reduced squared portion 42 at its inner end upon which ismounted an upwardly extending rock-arm or trip f3 (see Figs. 10,11, 12,14- and 15). rfhis trip may be slid longitudinally on the squared portion of the sh: ft and is mounted between the sides of a slide that is U-shaped in section and carried upon a pair of cross studs or pins rThe upper end of the trip 43 is arranged to engage the end of a sliding bolt 46 that carried upon the under sides of the top plate et by a pair of pins li7 engaging slots therein (see Figs. l1 and le). In its forward position the trip is also arranged to engage a hook-shaped lug or abutment 418 on the end of the bolt 4G. The latter cooperates with a locking surface i3 on the collar l0 of the motor shaft 8,. to lock the motor devices and preventiturther operation of 'the counting mechanism. l

lVhen the slide ist is in its forward pe-sr tion the end of the trip L.i3 will bc located as shown in Fig. ll, between the hooked l' g' 4S and the end of the locking bar 4G, so tl* the locking bolt may be shifted by the trip in opposite directions to alternately lock and release the motor devices. Only when the shaft -ll turned to shift the bolt lf3 to locked position, is the cut-away portion at the outer end thereof in position to permit the shift of the sliding frame so that the l frame and thereby expose the counters to show interested parties that they are all at Zero. 'lhe shift of the sliding frame to the ight to expose the counters is lin-ited by the engagement of the strip Se thereon to the fixed plate and in this position the top bai f the frame holds the shaft il and it cannot be turned to release Ae and plates and 3G have been reo '1 ie 'position in ivhich they conceal The judge may7 then release 4l@ by turning the shaft l-l in the 'e eirection to bring trip into en- .jement ivith the hooled lug 4S of the bolt. ,finis operation may be repeated as many times as is desired before balloting commences, but it Will be seen that the counters nuist be concealed before the motor devices are released for operation.

The short motor shaft is provided adjacent its lovver end ivith a collar 50 (see Fig. le) having a pin 5l on its loiver face which a. cani slot in a sliding plate 53 see Fi 13). Plate 53 is guided betiveen the front an d baeli vvalls of the top section 3 and slides upon the bottoni thereof and beloiv the collar on dish 50. At its left hand end the plate is provided with a lug 54E (see haring an inclined cam-face that is arranged to engage a pin (see Figs. le and l on the nnder side of the lai-shaped slide A Shaft S can only rotate toward the right as described7 and when. so moved, pin 5l is arranged to shift the plate 53 tovaid the right and the caineface acts on pin to nieve slide Llei and tr p 43 to their rearniost position. ln this position, the trip 4:3 Will still engage the end oi `he bolt 4:5 to move it into looked i 'y cannet engage the e the oclring bolt.

hooked lug By reason of th pidge may.,

1 1 L ed, expose the counters machine has ing commences, i. c.

been operated, the

thr vn to its i'earmost position, as Ys ied, and the count cannot be again exposed ivithont permanentlj-,i locking the motor mechanism and counters operated th reby.

The rear Wall or an openinff 5P (s slide sie, throngl section 3 is provided with ,j ig. l2) opposite the which the city cierl; or may insert a rod to set nosa-,ove

he slide and trip in their forivaidniost position when the machine is prepared for an eortien. This cannot be done by any unauthc d individual, inasmuch as the back casing o, which is under co trol of the city clerls locll, normally covers the opening 5T (see lilo'. ll).

The sliding plate 53 forms part of the motor mechanism for the machine and can ries at its right hand end a short 'ack 5S which engages the teeth of the pinion 5S n the inner end of a cross stud or shaft 59, journaled in the top section 3. rl`he forward end of this shaft extends through the front Wall of the section and carries a eranlo arm (see Fig. S). 'Each of the machine units 2 is provided with motor devices coiniirising ay cross stud or shaft (il (see'Fig. le), the outer end of which extends through the front Wall of the section and c; rries t crank-arm G2. rEhe base section l (see Figs. l0 and 3l), is provided with motor devices comprising a cross stud or shaft (325 having a cranh arni Gel en its outer eid. The shafts 55)? Gl and 6:2 are arranged in line (see Fig. 8) and the crank-arms 50 and o are all of equal length and are provided with pins (55 engaging the open-ended slots (3T in the edge of an upright connecting bar GS. The cam slot 52 (see Fig. 113) is so shaped that the slide plate 33 is shifted back and forth as the main motor shaft S is rotated to oscillate the shaft 59 and the motor shafts (3l and G3 through a quarter of a revolution. That is to say?, when a voter is admitted to the machine and the main, niliright motor shaft S is rotated thi-(nigh a half revolution, the horizontal motor shafts Gl andA (33 of the sections are oscillated toivard the left throngh a quarter revolution and when the revolution of the main motor shaft is completed as the voter leaves the machine, these lioriyontal shafts are oscillated baclthrough a quarter turn to normal position.

The connecting-bar 68 is piei'abl, v earried upon the rear face of a plate 6E) (sec Figs. l and 7) by pins TO fixed to the plate h vertical slots in the late Gf) is revolubl'y and projecting thrroug connecting-bar. l1 held in place betivee-. tl

he o

ie longitudinal strips 28 and Q9. ile the counter-con- Plate G9, ceahng plates, is zr yan ed Ai the same plane ivith the strips 29, but the plate (S9 is made longer than plates o5 and 36 so tha' the receive it. The

the plate 69 and connecting-bar 68 so as to disconnect the motor devices of the diilerent sections or units. These motor devices may then be moved, as will presently appear, so as to release the counters from their actuators and permit the return of the former to zero position.

The main motor shaft 8 is also arranged to control the restoring and locking devices for the counter actuators. A slide plate 73 (see Figs. 10, 12 and 14), having spacing strips 74 on its under side near its ends, is arranged to slide within the top section upon the plate 53. Plate 73 is guided between the front and back walls of the top section and is provided with a cam-slot 75 within which extends a pin 76 fixed to a collar or disk 77 on the motor shaft. Plate 73 is arranged, as shown (see Fig. 10), between the collars or disks 77 and 50. The rear edge of the plate 73 is provided with a series of lugs 78 having notches 79 between them and coperating with a series of crank-arms 80 carried on cross studs or rockshafts 81, that are journaled in the front and rear walls of the top section 3. The rear ends of these shafts 81 extend through the side wall of the section and are provided with crank-arms 82 which are slotted at their ends to receive pins 83 on the upper ends of a series of longitudinally shifting bars 84. These bars are provided on one edge with a series of projecting lugs 85 that coperate with the vertical rows of voting mechanisms to lock the latter normally against operation. Vhen the motor shaft is shifted toward the right, plate 73 is shifted to move lug 78 away from the arms 80 on the rock-shafts 81. This serves to release the several locking and restoring bars 84. When the voter leaves the machine, the return shift of the plate 73 effected by the pin 76, serves to return the rock-shafts 81 and restoring and locking bars 84 to normal position. The upper ends of the bars 84C are guided in vertical direction by the engagement of the pins 83 thereon with a series of vertical slots 86 in a plate 87 (see Figs. 24, 25 and 29), that is carried on pins or studs 88 behind and parallel to the rear wall of the top section 3. The supporting pins 88 (see Fig. 25) are xed to the rear wall of the top section and the plate 87 is held separated therefrom by the spacing thimbles 89.

Each of the machine units or sections carries a number of registers or counters and each counter comprises three dials 90 mounted upon hubs or sleeves 91. The dials are provided each with ten figures that are exposed through openings 92 (see Fig. 8), in the front wall of the section. The tens and hundreds hubs or sleeves 91 are provided with intermittent gears 93 which are arranged to be engaged respectively by single tooth actuators 94 on the units and tens sleeves or hubs. The tens and hundreds sleeves are also provided with independent locking wheels 95 arranged to engage cylindrical surfaces 9G on the units and tens sleeves. These locking surfaces are mutilated as at 97, opposite the teeth 91, so as to free the locking wheels 95 when the teeth 91 are in engagement with the gears 93. it will be seen that the dials of each counter are always locked together, either by the locking wheels and surfaces 95 and 90, or by the intermittent gears and actuating teeth 9st, so that movement can only be imparted to the counters by operating the units sleeve. These sleeves 91 are mounted upon the forward reduced ends of cross studs 98 that are journaled between the front and back walls of the frame section. There are four of these studs for each counter. The stud 98 upon which the unit sleeve is fixed, is provided with a squared part 99 upon which the units sleeve tits. The end of this stud projects through the front or face of the frame and is adapted to receive a suitable tool or crank by which the counters may be re-set at Zero position after they have been released from their actuators.

rFhe counter actuators are in the form or" rotary or oscillating cylinders 100 that are mounted to revolve and slide upon the stild 98 adjacent the units stud. rlhe inner end of the actuator is provided with a pinion 101 which is arranged to engage the teeth of the rack-bar 102, which slides longitudinally upon the bottom of the unit frame. The end of the rach meshes with the teeth on the pinion 103 that is fixed to vthe motor shaft 01 of the unit or section. The pinious 101V and 103 are of the same size so that as the voter is admitted to the machine, rack 102 is shifted to the right and all of the counter actuators of the machine are given a quaiter turn toward the left. As the voter leaves the machine, the actuators are returned in the opposite direct i to normal.

The ac'tlilator is provided with a sin le tooth gear 101 and a cylindrical locking s1.:- face 1053, which cooper-ae with an intermittent gear 100 upon the unit sleeve of the counter. The tooth 10st is normally in line with the gear 100 instead of being noi-mall",7 out of line therewith, as in prior construe tions, butI the tooth is shifted out of line with its gea when the actuator is pushed in to voted position. With this arrangement, all of the counters or registers of me machine are advanced one step by the forward movement of the actuators when the voter is admitted to cast his ballot. But, as the voter leaves the machine, the counters, with the exception of those whose actuators have been shifted to voted position, are turned bach one step. .lt is understood tha l U lthe teeth of the actuator rack-bar 102 are wide enough to engage the teeth of the actuator' pinions, both when the latter are in their outermost position and when they are pushed in to their voted position.

rllhe cylindrical locking surface 105 is preferably of the same diameter as the pitch line of the single tooth gear 10%, so that grooves 107 are left on opposite sides of the tooth to admit the corners of the teeth of the counter gear wheel 106. These grooves extend beyond the end of the tooth so that the teeth of the gear 106 will properly clear the actuator and will not be jammed, even though the tooth 104 of the actuator is not pushed in far enough and is left in partial engagement with the gear. The outer ends of the grooves 107 are separated by a halftooth 106, which corresponds in shape to the tooth 1011 up to the pitch line thereof. lt is essential that this half-tooth be employed between the outer ends of the grooves and in the space in front of the actuator tooth 101, in order to properly shift the gear 106 in case the corners of its teeth should enter the space in front of the gear 104. lit-hout this half-tooth the gear 106 would not be brought into proper relation with the surface 105 if its teeth should enter the space in front of the tooth 104. On the other hand, the wheel would become jammed and the corners of the teeth would ride on the locking surface. If desired, the locking gear and surface between the actuator and the unit sleeve, may be independent e-f the actuator tooth and intermittent gear as in the arrangement between the units and tens wheel. After the actuator has been pushed in and started on its backward movement, the tooth 1041 behind the gear 10G prevents it from being pulled out again or restored until after its back movement to normal position is completed.

Upon the studs 98 which carry the actuator and unit sleeve and the hundreds sleeve of the next adjacent counter, is mounted a slide 110 which has a rearwardly projecting top flange 111 carrying a downwardly extending pin 112. The pin engages a spiral cam slot 118 in a cylindrical cam 11a' that iixed to the rear end of the actuator stud, and which forms the shifter for the counter actuator. The front end of the slide is provided with a yoke 109 that engages an annular groove in the rear end of the actuator. By this arrangement the actuator and slide are connected together for simultaneous back and forth shift, but the actuator may rotate independently of the slide.

By turning the actuator stud 98 and shifter cam 114, the slide and actuator are shifted to voted position. For this purpose the front ends of the actuatorstuds 98 are extended through the front wall of the frame and may, if desired, be provided with suitable cranks or keys. In the form shown however, the ends of the studs are provided with square portions adapted to be fitted by a suitable voters key. The front slide plates 35 and 36 and the fixed plate 37 are provided opposite the ends of the actuator studs 9S with key-hole slots 115 having notches 116 that are 00O apart (see Fig. 1). The voters key 117 (see Fig. Q), is provided with a circular head 11S adapted to lit the openings 115 of the plates and having lugs 110 corre spending to the notches 116. The head of the key is also provided with a socket 120 to engage the squared end of the actuatorstud 98. lVhen the key is placed within the keyhole slots 115 and upon one of the actua tor studs 0S and turned slightly, the lugs 110 thereon are brought behind the edges of the key-hole slots so that the key cannot be removed until it has been turned through a complete quarter revolution, which is suilicient to move the actuator to its voted position. The key-hole slots also prevent the unauthorized manipulation of the actuators by one who is not provided with the proper key.

Preferably, the outer ends of the actuator studs 9S are provided with disks 121 which bear an mark or cross that is normally hidden behind the front plates 35, 36 and 37. lVhen any one of the actuator studs are given a quarter turn to the left, as required to move the actuator to voted position, the mark is displayed through one of a series of openings 122 (see Fig. 1) in the front plates so as to show that the actuator has been properly moved to voted position.

It will be noted that the actuator is always interlocked with the counter by the engagement of either the locking surface 10.5I or the tooth 10-'1C thereof with the counter gear wheel 106. The locking surface 105 is provided with a mutilated portion 123 diametrically opposite the tooth 101, but inasmuch as the actuator 105 can only be shifted through a quarter turn, the mutilated portion 123 cannot be brought into position to free the teeth of the gear 106, except by disconnecting the motor mechanism of any .eeetion from the common operating means. This can only be effected by the city clerk or other proper official who may remove the back casing 5, together with its fm'wardly projecting lug 27 so that the slide plates 62,) and GS may be disengaged from the crankarms of the several motor shafts. The shafts may then be turned through the medium of the crank-arms as far as is necessary to bring the mutilated portion 123 of the actuators, into position to clear the teeth of the gear 106. rllhe counters may then he set back to zero by turning the units studs 06.

The outer edge of the actuator rack-bar 109`I of each section, engages guide studs 124- ixed to the bottom of the unit frame. Be-

tween the rear edge of the rack-bar and the rear wall of the unit frame, are arranged the wedge blocks or stop devices 125 of the limiting mechanism, which slide lengthwise of the section frames on the bottoms thereof. These wedge-blocks or stop devices are square at one end, but are provided with an inclined face 126 at the other end. The top of the inclined face 126 is cnt off to form a face 127 which may abut against the square end of the adjacent wedge-block. lt will be understood that each frame section has one more wedge-block or limiting` stop device than it has voting mechanisms. The sepa rators, one for each of the voting mechanisms, are preferably in the form of circular disks which are arranged in the spaces between the limiting stop devices or wedgeblocks and slide upon the bottom wall of the frame section. The separators 128 project above the wedge-blocks or limiting stop devices 124, as shown in Fig. 17, and are arranged to be engaged by a downwardly7 projecting rib 129 at the forward edge of the slide 111, so that whenever an actuator shifter or stud is moved to voted position, the separator corresponding thereto will be carried rearwardly, and by acting on the inclined face 126 of the adjacent separator block, the entire series of blocks will be elongated. rlhe rib 129 extends the entire length of the slide 111 so thatthe series of blocks and separators may be shifted longi tudinally in the frame section without changing the necessary relation between the parts.

Obviously, it is only necessary to limit the extent to which the series of blocks may be elongated to limit the number of actuator Shifters or keys which can be operated. The separators are not positively connected to the actuator shifters as in prior constructions, but are free to slide longitudinally in contact with the longitudinally extending depending' rib 129 of the slides 111 within the limit of movement of the wedge-blocks. The rear movement of the slides is not of suflicient extent to shift the separator block into position between the square portion 12T and the square end of the adjacent blocl, so that when the slide is returned to normal position, either when a voter retracts his vote or when he leaves the machine, the separator is not withdrawn with it as in priorl constructions, but inasmuch as the rib 129 moves away from the separator 128, the latter no longer acts to hold the two adjacent wedge-blocks apart but will be forced back to normal position by the inclined face 126, when another actuator shifter or key is operated. But when the slide and actuator are shifted in to voted position, the corresponding separator is securely held in position to spread the adjacent blocks and cannot be forced outwardly since, while the cam or shifter 1111 may be operated to shift the slide 111 in either direction, the inner end of the spiral cam slot 113 is arranged at right angles to the line of shift of the slide 111 and its pin 112 so that the slide and actuator are locked in voted position and can only be returned by turning the actuator stud or shaft 9S and the cam or shifter 1.111 thereon. lf, by accident, the pin 112 of the slide is not shifted to the extreme inner end of the cam slot, the voter will still be `prevented from casting more than the proper number of votes, since the outward movement of the separator would restore the slide and actuator to their unvoted position. It is obvious that the voter may, if he desires, turn bach the actuator stud or shaft and shifter 11d, to restore the slide and actuator and thus retract his Vote. The oneway connection between the separators and counter-actuators by which they are shifted to voted position together but are returned to normal separately, permits the free shift of the limiting oevices transversely to that of the actuators and obviates the necessity of any direct connection between the actuators and separators and the mechanism may be much more compactly arranged.

The end blocks or limiting stop devices of each series are not positively held against movement, but are connected together so that the entire series is free to shift in opposite directions. By this arrangement, the movement of any one block is only one-half what it would be if one of the end blocks was rigidly fixed against movement. For this purpose, the end blocks are provided with rearwardly projecting lugs 180 (see Fig. 1G) which extend through slots 131 in the rear wall of the frame sections, and are provided with pins or studs 1.32 (see Fig. 21). rlhe limiting bars or connections 133 are provided with one or more openings 134; at each end for engaging the studs 132 and connecting the end blocks of each series. Vhere the row of voting mechanisms in the frame section represents a single office, ff. c. one to which a single person is to be elected, the end blocks of the limiting` mechanism in that section are directly connected by the limiting' bar 133. The lowerinost limitingbar or lcoimection is shown so arranged in Fig. 21, and the studs 132 are so arranged in the holes 131i of the bar, that if one of the separators is pushed in to separate one pair of wedge-blocks, all of the other blocks will be brought solidly into engagement and the length of the series will equal the distance between the pins 132 on the end blocks. None of the other separators of the unit or section can then be pushed in and but one vote can be recorded for the office represented by that section.

The several. frame sections or office rows CSN CIT

ot voting mechanisms can be used either tor a single otlice group or for a multicandidate group. 'il hat is, several ot the othce rovvs or trame sections may be coupled together to permit a voter to cast all ot his ballots for the candidates named in a single roiv or to vote a straight ticket, or otherwise cut up his ballot in any desired manner. 1n Fig. Q1 the three top sections or rovvs et voting mechanisms are throivn into a single multitandidate group. Each limiting bar or secion 1253, extends across the machine and connects the end block of one section to the en llock oit' the section above it at the other side oi the machine. In the multicanoidate group in the single oilice group, one oi the end blocks oit the entire series is not held against movement as in prior devices, but the tivo end blocks ot the entire serie" arranged in the multicandidate group, are connected together Jtor simultaneous shiitt in opposite directions by a cross connection or bar 185, s0 that the series oi wedge-blocks 0r limiting stop devices may shift as a vvhole in opposite directions. This arrangement, as stated, cuts down the necessary movement of any one block to one-halt ot that required ii one ot the end blocks ot the connected series Were lixed in position, and the arrangen'ient has been found particularly valuable Where there are a large number ot persons to be elected to the same ollice, and `vhere the niulticandidate group ogt voting mechanisms must be made correy large. The holes 13st in the i. ing oars and cross connection 185, erinit the proper adjustment of these parts non the iinsl132 so that oul the 3ro )er number of votes may be cast.

lilach ot the actuator studs or rock shatts entend through the rear ivall ot the 7 frame section and carries a tumbler head termed in tivo plates or cross arms 136, conat their ends by pins 137 and 13S 1G and rEhe plates or arms he tumbler head, are separated as shown, .vhile the pins are oil-setl on opposite sides of the end oit the rock shaft or stud.y so as to form in elile lt crank arms and crank pins. The vertical bars Slat the rear the upright trames (see Fig. 22) are p ovided on one edge -vvith lugs S5 which id between the plates 13G and are nory positioned just above the pins 13T so of the rock shafts actuators to voted position. rfhe ver- \l bars Sel; and their operating rock shafts as to prevent the shittthe engagement of the lugs 78 on the rcstoring` phte 73 with the lugs S0 on the rock shafts (see 12 and 14). lllhen he roter approaches the machine the re- 78 is shifted, as previously described by the pin '.76 on the motor shaft 8, to move the lugs 78 away from he arms 8O so as to permit the moven'ient olf the bars S-t and the actuator rock shafts. The return movement ot the plate 73, ivlien the voter leaves the machine, restores the rock sha'lts S1 and bars S11 to normal position and thc latter restored With the actuator rock shafts and actuators which may have been mortal.

As above stated, the pins 51 and TG are so located on the motor shatt that the actuator operating bar or plate 51 is shitted in advance ot the restoring plate 73, the voter leaves the machine so that' the counter actuators that have been placed in. voted position vvill be rotated betere they are re stored into engagement with their counters. Moreover, the actuator-bar is moved in advance of the restoring and locking bar as the voter enters the machine. it the bars 73 were moved lirst to unlock the actuator shitters the voter might shi'tt one or more oi them before they ivere rotated by the movement of the bar 58, so that the counters connected thereto would not be advanced one step with the remaining counters ot the machine. The voter could then w'thdraiv the shifted actuators, cast his ballot` and, as he lettthe machine the counters ot these actuators Would be turned back one step. By arranging the mechanism so that the actuator operating bar is shifted in advance of the restoring locking bar 71, both When he enters and when he leaves the machine, such fraudulent manipulation is prc vented.

lt Will be noted that the lu s S5 are spaced some distance apart so tha when one ot the actuator rock-shafts 518 moved tlirongh a quarter turn to voted position, it vvill not litt the bar Sit sulliciently to bring the lugs S5 into engagement with the pins 137 above the lugs. But if one of the rock shaits is shifted throiigh a quarter turii, as is pos-- sible when the restoring plate 78 is moved to its extreme right hand position, lugs S5 of the bar 8st connected to the shatt, Will operate upon the pins 1337 above them to rotate the actuator rock shafts and thus move all ot the actuators in a single vertical row or ticket to voted position. To effect such a shit't of the rock shafts S'. they are extended through the 'tront- Wall of the top section of the machine and provided With straight ticket keys or arms 14;() (see Figs. 1 and 11). The universal members 84 thus serve both as restoring bars and straight ticket bars. l" should be further noted that by manipulating the straight ticket keys all o1' the voting mechanisms and a single column or ticket may be moved to voting position or restored to change or correct the vote.

Preferably, the tivo lower seci'ions ot the machine are arranged tor voting on questions and While their individual voting mechanisms and actuators are otherwise the 'same in construction and arrangement, the limiting blocks of these sections are not connected and the counter actuators should not of course be shifted by the straight ticket mechanisms. It will be noted that the restoring or straight ticket bars 84 are not provided with lugs below the actuator rock-shafts 98 of the lower section (see Fig. 22). The lugs 85 for restoring the actuators of the lower section, are mounted on slides 141 which are connected to the bars by pins 142 engaging slots 143 therein. In the lowermost position of the bars 84, the pins 142 are in the upper ends of the slots 143, so that the downward or restoring shift of the bars will operate to turn back the actuators in the lower unit frame, but the upward shift of any one of the bars affected by its straight ticket key, will not operate the actuators in t-he second unit frame by reason of the loose one-way connection between the lowermost lugs 85 and the bars.

To relieve the main limiting mechanism of the machine from strain, a supplemental interlocking mechanism is provided by which the shift of any one of the straight ticket keys to voted position will directly lock out the other straight ticket keys. A plate 144 is carried in rear of the top section and in rear of the plate 87 upon the pins 88 (see Figs. 21, 25 and 26). This plate is preferably mounted to slide on the pins 88 which extend through slots 145 therein, and the latter' is held apart from the plate 87 by the separator strips 146 which are secured by rivets to the outer plate 144. Collars 147 fixed on the ends of the pins 88, hold the outer plate in place. The pins 83 on the rock-arms 82 of the straight ticket shafts, extend through the vertical slots 86 (see Fig. 29) in the inner plate 87 into the space between the latter and the plate 144, and in this space are arranged two sets of limiting wedge-blocks 148 and 149, which are guided between the separator strips 146. In Figs. 27 and 28 the outer plate 144 is removed to show the wedge-blocks, the in` ne1 set 148 being alone shown in Fig. 28. The lower corners of each block are cut away to form spaces through which the pins 83 extend and to form the inclined cam-faces 150 and 151. The cam-faces 151 are longer and deeper than the cam-faces 150, as shown, and with the inner set of blocks the long cam-faces 151 are at the right hand end of the blocks (see Fig. 28) but, with the outer set of blocks, the long cam-faces 151 are at the left hand end of the blocks (see Fig. 27). With the separator blocks in the position shown in Figs. 27 and 28, it is obvious, that if any one of the straight ticket keys is operated, the pin 88 of that key will engage the long cam-face 151 of the inner block 148 to the left of it and shift the inner set of blocks to lock all of the straight ticket lkeys at the left. The pin 158 of the shifted key will also engage the long cam-face 151 of the outer block 149 at its right and will shift the outer set of blocks to lock all of the straight ticket keys on the right of the shifted key. In this way the inner set of blocks operate to lock the straight ticket keys on one side of the selected key and the outer set lock the keys on the other side. These separator blocks are not retracted to normal by the return movement of any selected key, either when retracted by the elector to change his vote or by the operation of the machine but they will be restored to normal on the subsequent operation of any of the voting mechanisms by the engagement of the pins 83 with the short cam-faces 150 of both sets of blocks. That is to say, any one of the pins 88 will restore the blocks 148 of the inner set that are on the left of it, and will restore blocks 149 that are on its right.

then the two lower sections are used for balloting on questions, the tumbler heads on the ends of the actuator rock-shafts 98 are cross connected by bars 152. The pins 187 and 138 of the tumbler heads project beyond the rear cross-arm 186 (see Fig. 16), and the bars 152 are swiveled at their upper ends on the ends of the pins 138 of the second section while the pins 187 of the lower section eX- tend through slots 153 in the lower ends of the bars. In normal position pins 187 are in the lower ends of the slots It is obvious that with the cross connection between the two shafts, one of which represents a yes vote and the other a no vote, either shaft may be moved to voted position, but that when so moved pin 187 is in the upper end of the slot 153 and the bar 152 will then prevent the movement of the other actuator shaft of the connected pair, unless the first vote cast is retracted. Any of the unit frames or sections may thus be used without. change in its construction for voting on amendments.

The lower ends of the restoring or straight ticket bars 84 (see Fig. 22) are guided be tween rollers 154, which are carried on pins 155 between a longitudinally extending strip or bar 156 and a series of cross strips 157. The bar 156, short strips 157 and rollers 154 thus form pockets to receive the lower ends of the bars 84. The bar 156 is carried upon the rear face of the base section 1 b v pins i58 which project through vertical slots 159 in the ends of the bar.

The bar 156 is provided with pins 160. to the reduced ends of which Figs. 22 and 26) are connected the upright bars 161. and inner bar 162 is connected to each of the bars 161 by pins 168 but is held apart ihr-refrein by spacing tbimbles 164 ends of the bars 161 and 1G;`

The upper eXt-end b19- tween the top section and the plate 87 se 

